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22 May 2008

The $64 Tomato by William Alexander

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. That means that if you click through and buy the book, I get a few pennies for a cup of tea. Much obliged! It is spring again which is the time when I start reading books about gardens. If you have been reading my other blog, then you know that I actually started a garden myself this year. So I'm even more interested in gardening books, not only how-to manuals but also memoirs about gardening experiences. I'm even reading gardening blogs. That is what led me to The $64 Tomato by William Alexander.

With this book, Mr. Alexander has given readers a funny and engaging story of his relationship with his garden. Like many of us, he had dreams of being a gentleman farmer who occasionally puttered around in his beds and then enjoyed a bountiful harvest. The reality of maintaining a 2,000 square-foot garden plus orchard turned out to be much different. Mr. Alexander battled with bugs, animals, and strange contractors to produce tastier fruits and veggies for his family than what could be found at the grocery store.

The best thing about this book is that Mr. Alexander talks about more than what kind of fertilizer to use. He lets us in on how he connects to his garden emotionally and how it benefits his life beyond his pantry. He does all of this with a gentle sense of humor. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has ever dreamed of having a mini-farm in their backyard.